Citation

Eiser AR. Am. J. Med. 2015; 128(11): 1178-1181.

Affiliation

Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 W. Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129. Electronic address: Arnold.Eiser@Drexelmed.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.amjmed.2015.04.039

PMID

26031889

Abstract

The murder of cardiovascular surgeon, Michael Davidson, MD, suggests the existence of a new disorder, postmodern stress disorder. This disorder is characterized by repetitive exposure to digital images of violence in a variety of electronic media including films, television, video games, music videos and other online sources. This disorder appears to be a variant of post-traumatic stress disorder and shares with it excessive stimulation of the amygdala and loss of the normal inhibitory inputs from the orbito-frontal cingulate cortical gyrus. In postmodern stress disorder repetitive digital micro-traumas appears to have a similar effect that the macro-traumas of warfare or civilian assaults. Other elements of the disorder include the development of fixed ideas of bullying or public shaming, access to weapons, and loss of impulse control. This syndrome could explain a number of previously inexplicable murders/suicides. Violence against healthcare professionals is a profound concern for the medical profession as are assaults on non-clinicians. The recommendation is made to change forensic procedures to include obtaining historic information concerning the use of digital media during investigations of violent crimes and murders so that the disorder have be further characterized. Gaining an understanding of this disorder will require a multi-disciplinary approach to this life-threatening public health problem. Research should also focus on the development and evaluation of possible antidotes to postmodern toxicities.

Language: en